Revisiting 'Rumours' -- 35 years later

It's 1977 all over again, or so it seems now that Fleetwood Mac is back.

The fussing and fighting among band members and the resulting stories -- much of which culminated in the songs on the groundbreaking "Rumours" album -- is the stuff of music history. Not only was it juicy gossip in an age before instant news -- yes, kids, there was life before the Internet -- but the music was as passionate and soulful as it came, due in large part to the star-crossed lovers in the band.

"There's a subtext of love between us, and it would be hard to deny that much of what we've accomplished had something to do with trying to prove something to each other," guitarist Lindsey Buckingham told Men's Journal of vocalist and longtime love Stevie Nicks. "Maybe that's f--ked up, but this is someone I've known since I was 16, and I think on some weird level we're still trying to work some things out. There will never be romance there, but there are other kinds of love to be had."

As corny as it sounds, one is love for the band.

Onstage

Fleetwood Mac

» Where: Verizon Center, 601 F St. NW

» When: 8 p.m. Tuesday

» Info: $49.50 to $149.50; 202-397-SEAT; ticketmaster.com

The band started in the '60s as a blues group led by guitarist Peter Green, but it really gained super-group status when a little-known guitarist named Lindsey Buckingham was tapped to join it. A condition he imposed was that his girlfriend, singer Stevie Nicks, be allowed to join, too.

Other members at that time included John and Christine McVie, who also split, and of course Mick Fleetwood, the band's namesake.

As difficult as the breakup was for Nicks and Buckingham -- and arguably also for the McVies -- members including Nicks said they swept the pain aside for the good of the band. In a way, actively working through those emotions perhaps allowed the band to reach a point where it could celebrate 35 years and the reissue of the Grammy Award-winning "Rumours."

"We actually have two new Fleetwood Mac songs that I cut with Lindsey two weeks ago we might play," Nicks told Rolling Stone as the band prepared for the tour. "I had a really good time working with him for four days at his house. I got to hang out with his family and his kids, his grown-up kids, and really connect with him again. We're pretty proud of what we have done, and we're looking at it through the eyes of wisdom now, instead of through the eyes of jealousy and resentment and anger."